When it comes to hair care products, it is in the in the best interest of cosmetic companies to ensure their items have as long a shelf life and possible, not simply for the financial benefits but to make sure their customers receive the best quality product once it reaches their hot little hands. The time limit between when a product is created, warehoused and finally become a part of your favorite store’s inventory can span anywhere between a few weeks to a few months, so cosmetic companies add preservatives in order to make sure their product does not go to waste in the interim. Not only do preservatives work to extend the shelf life of commercial products by preventing them from becoming victims of microorganism (spoiling), according to the Cosmetic Info Website, preservatives also ward against inadvertent contamination due to consumer use (allergic reactions or irritation due to spoiled materials).
There are several different types of preservatives used in hair care products. Some contain antimicrobials that prevent the growth or mold or other bacteria, and antioxidants prevent breakdowns in the chemical structure of a product when it come in contact with oxygen and/or heat. While we can all agree that the use of preservatives in hair care products and other cosmetics are a good thing, most likely the types that are used in most commercial hair care products are “cheap” and synthetic, providing very little benefit to your hair and possibly rendering the product itself ineffective.
If you’ve been in the natural hair care game for any significant period of time it’s no doubt you’ve been warned against products which use parabens, which are chemical compounds used to retard the growth of bacteria and fungus in shampoos, conditioners and moisturizers. The most common parabens used are methylparaben (E number E218), ethylparaben (E214), propylparaben (E216) and butylparaben, although there are lots more used in the cosmetic industry. Although there are many natural sources of parabens, all commercial produced parabens are synthetically created in laboratories. While parabens serve their purpose in keeping hair care products fresh, there have been links between their presence an breast cancer. Of course most companies claim the level of parabens added to their products is low enough not to cause harm, most natural hair care wearers are not willing to take chances with their body or their treasured tresses.
Unless you are in the habit of making your own products and can regulate quantities to make sure they are used before they go bad, there is no way to get around purchasing products that contain preservatives. Even some paraben-free brands can host a moderate amount of synthetic preservatives, such as phenoxyethanol which also has link to cancer and certain allergic reactions. So how can one stay on the safe side when choosing hair care products in a way that does not compromise their health, hair or budget? Well luckily there are many preservatives used in a variety of hair care products that aren’t synthetic and work just as good as their manufacture counterparts, such as grapefruit seed extract, essential oils, potassium sorbate, sorbic acid, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate and vitamins A & E. Although some of these alternatives do not preserve as long as substances on their own and need to be combined with others to be wholly effective, they do not pose the same potential health threats as parabens.
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